The five-day Indian Navy’s International Fleet Review-2016 formally ended with a joint international band concert at the Naval Officers’ Institute here on Monday.
Naval Bands from participating navies along with host Indian Navy jointly presented a bouquet of music in front of Chief of Naval Staff Admiral RK Dhowan who was the chief guest. The musical extravaganza was witnessed by over 1,000 spectators including many foreign dignitaries from participating Navies.
On Tuesday the visiting foreign ships would leave the shores of the host city. Traditionally they would be escorted to the open seas on their way home. Towards increasing interoperability among participating foreign navies and providing the requisite operational element to IFR, ships will sail out from the city in two groups of 27 ships each for a Passage Exercise (PASSEX) on Tuesday.
The exercises planned during the PASSEX are various formation manoeuvres, cross deck landing of aircraft, Aerial photography and steam past, which is akin to a salute at sea and Au Revoir before we meet again.
The three tall ships that participated in the IFR would have a separate send off in a ceremonial ‘ Sail in Company ’. Embodying the spirit of adventure and keeping alive the skills and traditions of ancient mariners, the crew of sailing vessels of Indian Naval Ships Tarangini, Sudarshini and Mhadei shall ‘ Sail in Company ’ from Visakhapatnam on Tuesday. They would be flagged off by Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Naval Command Vice Admiral Satish Soni from onboard INS Sumitra.
